I see that I've missed a few quite a few weeks of blogging here.
So - school and virus' don't mix well. I dropped two out of four classes. I'm on the last two-term papers with an online final and a little make-up work.
I'm a mess and this blog is on the back-burner.
So, there.
Welcome to November 2020!
Or, writing 50,000 in 30 days and trying to keep
everything in order and have something coherent come out of it all.
I participate in National Novel Writing Month each year.
Usually it’s where I can get thoughts down or other random ideas that have
crossed my mind. This year I began trying to finish some chapters for a novel
(the idea ran out) so I began another (which ran out). Now I am re-editing and
re-writing some old pieces of work which still counts. So, here is a little
tidbit of what I’ve been working on.
The day she went off to college was the best day of her
life.
She was sad to leave behind friends, they were all sad to go
their separate ways, but it was a new beginning. A new time to escape from
their little town and move on to different things, to see what the world would
become for each of them – graduation day was full of mixed feelings.
While everyone spent the weekend preparing for a summer full
of fun, relaxation, expensive trips, or travelling, she spent it packing all of
her belongings.
In spite of the mess she usually had around her, she’d
gotten rid of everything that was absolutely necessary. All the small things
that could be given away she sent on their way to others who would appreciate
them better. By Sunday she had everything she needed to begin her new life away
from home.
“Hey, why are you still up?”
She glanced up at her mom. For some reason she wasn’t
finding it difficult to feel sad about leaving.
“Just making sure I have enough room for what I’m using
tonight.”
“You do know that even college students come home on
occasion,” her mom sat on the bed. “I’m trying to understand why you’re packing
as though you’ll never come back.”
She sat down beside her mom.
“Yeah, I guess I could leave some stuff –”
Her mother shook her head, “No. You don’t have to explain
Catherine. Sometimes we need to take that plunge, pack up, and move into what
the world has to offer you.”
They shared a side hug.
“I guess I’m a little sad you’re moving a couple states away
and not staying closer.”
Are you participating this year? If so leave a little
blurb with what you’re writing.
Book: We Have Always Lived in This Castle
Author: Shirley Jackson
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
This is a book I’ve been waiting
to read for a while. It took me a while, but I managed to snag the audio copy
of the book and was able to listen to it while driving to and from school the
last few weeks.
This was a story I hadn’t fully
expected.
I knew it was a scary story based
on what I’d previously heard about it, but I had to see if it was true.
It’s true.
From the onset we are introduced
to our narrator, Mary Catherine, or Merricat. She tells us about the routine
she and her household have.
She goes into the village on
Tuesdays and Thursdays for basic supplies. From there we learn that she and her
family are ostracized by the villagers.
Through the story we come to
learn that six years prior four people were poisoned during a family dinner.
Poison in the sugar bowl.
The elder sister, Constance, was
the prime suspect in the case. She was ultimately acquitted of the charges, but
suspicions run deep.
Now, Constance, their uncle, and
Merricat live in Blackwood house alone. The talk and scorn of everyone, until
an unexpected visitor shows up on their doorstep putting into play grievances
and stress.
I don’t want to give the ending
away, but this little book is worth the read!
After all, we have always lived
in this castle.
What are you currently reading?
Anything you think I should read?
I missed last weeks post.
Some things happened, which included someone at my house leaving a door open and my cat running out for two days.
So - here's a late
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
As we're all well aware, this year hasn't been great for much of anything.
This blog has certainly suffered due to ... everything.
While updating it has been *coughmissed* a few times this month, writing little bits per week has been something.
I have begun to outline various stories that I want to work on (some of them I actually have begun).
There have been little things going around stating "Use Your Initials and Find Out Your Y/A Novel Title!" I've done two of those and these were the results:
Assassins, French Kissing, and Other Bad Ideas
The Daughter of Nightmares and Smoke
Now, one of these actually has a little steam behind it, while the other one is currently being outlined. Here is a little blurb of something in the middle.
The idea was to write a novel.
"So - how long is this going to last. A month, a week...?"
"Not funny."
"It's true, isn't it?"
She rolled her eyes. This was a conversation that abounded each time a new
interest caught her attention. While it was true nothing lasted long and her
attention was dim in some regards, surely there was one thing she could see
through.
"Come on, let's get some lunch."
"You sure dessert won't distract me from eating?"
The chuckle confirmed the teasing nature. While they would always be in a
slight disagreement about her attention span, they would always be together.
"Hey Nicholas! How's the wedding planning coming?"
Well ... at least until he married and left.
"You know, Annabeth has everything covered. I'm just here to say the
vows."
"Well, that's good to know. How's the latest venture Catalyn?"
She took a seat across from Nicholas.
"It's slow, but coming along."
"What is this new venture, I always forget what you're up to."
Catalyn managed not to make her smile too tight.
"Opening a bed and breakfast at the old Sanderson place."
"Oh," Stephanie stepped back, "good luck."
Catalyn rolled her eyes.
"Geeze, doesn't anyone mind their own business?"
Nicholas laughed.
"What?"
"Come on Lynnie, you know I believe in you. I really do," he
raised the menu to hide his face, "but you've got a track of not finishing
big projects."
She wanted to argue, to say it was crazy, but she couldn't. She knew the
truth was a hard pill to swallow. She knew the town thought this one would fall
through too. But she knew something they didn't. Each time she came close to
finishing, something overcame her. A sense of dread that the ending was about
to hit, followed by a sense of panic.
"Lynnie, don't let them get you down."
She picked her menu up, "Yeah, sure."
She had to finish this project. No matter what - she would finish this one.
This would be the first project to be completed by her.
That was her final decision.
What have you been working on this month? Are you ready for NaNoWriMo next month?
Four years ago I picked up an interesting novel at a conference. Simple titled: “Beauty and the Clockwork Beast”.
It sat on my shelf since then until the beginning of summer when COVID hit.
When I began it I was under the assumption that it was just another retelling with steampunk additions
I.
Was.
Wrong.
This novel took me on a ride including vampires, werewolves, air ships, ghosts, and grisly murder.
I ate it up.
The best part?
Three more novels currently in the series.
I finished the latest (which came out this year) just last night and now I’m rather frustratedly awaiting the next one.
If you like fairy tales or alternative telling a these are a must have from amazing author Nancy Campbell Allen.
“Beauty and the Clockwork Beast”
“Kiss of the Spindle”
“The Lady in the Coppergate Tower”
“Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts”
This was one of the best series I’ve read in a while. Check them out!
(I may add photos later on.)
